CREMLIN WP4 Workshop "Engineering For Advanced Neutron Instrumentation and Sample Environment" in Peterhof

45 participants from major neutron sources in Europe and Russia - Institute Laue-Langevin (ILL), Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ), ESS (European Spallation Source), Helmholtz research centres of Geesthacht (HZG) and Berlin (HZB), the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), Dubna, the Institute for Nuclear Research (INR RAS) and from the organizing institutes NRC KI - PNPI and FRM II/MLZ - discussed in a two-day meeting the challenges of the implementation of a first instrumentation of the new PIK reactor at NRC KI - PNPI, Gatchina.

In their welcome and introductory talks, the organizers highlighted the potential of PIK for Europe’s supply with neutrons in the forthcoming decade.

In order to cover different methods and approaches, experts in the field of instrumentation and sample environment design presented their views on engineering and design aspects of innovative instrumentation based on recent experience gained at facilities like ISIS, ILL, MLZ or the future ESS.

More specifically, the topics included mechanical construction, neutron components, electronic components, detectors, automatisation, instrument control and software as well as different aspects of sample environment.

In summary, scientific and personal exchange between scientists and engineers from Europe and Russia has been achieved in exemplary fashion not only during the scientific sessions but also during the social events, the impressive visit of the Peterhof Palace and the working dinner on Tuesday.

The most important outcome of the workshop can be summarized in the following key points:

• In view of a nowadays extremely automatized and computerized instrumentation, early agreement on standardization of hard- and software in instrument control is highly advisable.
• Most of the proposed instruments require cold neutrons, i.e. the installation of the cold source is of primary importance.
• Scientists aim at the best measureable signal. Only the neutrons used at the instrument should be fed to the instrument, and minimization of background is of equal importance compared to intensity.
• The worldwide Annual Meetings of engineers designing neutron instrumentation ISNIE (International Society of Neutron Instrument Engineers) seems to be an excellent platform for knowledge transfer. Engineers from PIK are warmly welcome.

The participants were enthusiastic about the possibilities of the High Performance Neutron Source PIK, however without neglecting the existing challenges. In this context, the further development of the collaboration carried out within CREMLIN project seems to be highly desirable.